Two hotels with the same nightly rate can cost very different amounts by checkout. Here’s what to look for before you book.
At a glance
- Mandatory fees, such as resort, destination or amenity fees, are charged per night on top of the room rate.
- Optional charges like parking, early check-in and pet fees depend on how you travel, so count only the ones that apply to you.
- Most hotels place a temporary hold on your card for incidentals, which is released after checkout but can take a few days to clear.
- Compare hotels on the final total for your exact dates, including taxes and fees.
The rate you see when you start searching is rarely the amount you pay at checkout. Taxes, nightly fees and optional extras can add a meaningful amount to a stay, and they’re easy to miss when you compare hotels by headline price. A few minutes of checking before you book makes the comparison fair.
Mandatory fees versus optional charges
It helps to sort extra costs into two groups.
Mandatory charges apply to every guest: taxes and any nightly fee the hotel requires, whatever it’s called. These belong in any price comparison.
Optional charges depend on your trip: parking, pets, early check-in, an extra bed and so on. Add only the ones you’ll actually use.
Common mandatory fees
Hotels use several names for required nightly fees:
- Resort fee: common at resorts and in vacation destinations, said to cover amenities such as pools, gyms, beach chairs or Wi-Fi.
- Destination or urban fee: a similar charge used by some city hotels.
- Amenity or facility fee: another name for the same idea.
- Taxes: sales and occupancy taxes set by local and state governments, which vary from place to place.
Good to know
In the US, federal rules now require hotels and booking sites to include mandatory fees in the price they advertise, though government taxes can still be shown separately. Check the final total before you pay, since optional charges and taxes can still change it.
Optional charges worth checking
| Charge | When it applies | How to limit it |
|---|---|---|
| Parking or valet | Driving or renting a car | Compare nearby garages or skip the car in walkable cities |
| Early check-in or late checkout | Arriving early or leaving late | Ask in advance; some hotels allow it free when rooms are available |
| Pet fee | Traveling with a pet | Check the fee and any size limits before booking |
| Extra guest | More people than the base rate covers | Confirm how many guests the rate includes |
| Rollaway bed or crib | Extra sleeping space | Ask whether cribs are free and how many are available |
| Minibar and room service | Using them | Know the prices before you open the fridge |
| Premium Wi-Fi | Faster internet than the free tier | Check whether the free tier is enough for your needs |
The incidental hold
At check-in, many hotels place a temporary authorization on your card to cover incidentals such as room charges, minibar use or damage. It isn’t a charge, but it does reduce your available credit until it’s released.
The hold is usually released after checkout, but your bank decides how quickly it disappears, and it can take several days. If you’re using a debit card, the held money may be unavailable during that time, so a credit card is often the better choice for check-in.
Pro tip
Ask at check-in how much the incidental hold will be and when it will be released. If you won’t use room charges, some hotels can lower it.
Where fees show up during booking
Fees can appear at several points:
- Search results, where some sites show nightly rates and others show totals.
- Room selection, where rate details often list fees in smaller text.
- The final review page, which should show the full amount for your stay.
- The confirmation email, which should match what you agreed to.
- At the hotel, where optional charges are added based on what you use.
Booking through a travel site doesn’t remove hotel fees. Some fees are collected by the hotel at checkout even when the room was prepaid online. Our guide to booking direct versus online travel agencies covers other differences between channels.
How to compare the true total
- Choose your exact dates and number of guests, since fees often vary by both.
- Go to the final review page for each hotel you’re considering.
- Note the total including taxes and mandatory fees.
- Add any optional charges you’ll definitely pay, such as parking.
- Compare the totals side by side, along with the cancellation terms.
The bottom line
A lower nightly rate only matters if the total is lower too. Compare final prices for your dates, count the optional charges you’ll really pay, and ask about the incidental hold before you arrive. That way, the price you planned for is the price you pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is a resort fee?
A mandatory nightly charge that hotels say covers amenities such as pool access, a fitness center or Wi-Fi. It applies whether or not you use those amenities.
Can I refuse to pay a resort fee?
Generally not if it was disclosed when you booked, because it’s part of the price. If a fee appears at checkout that wasn’t disclosed, ask the front desk to remove it.
Why is there an extra hold on my card at check-in?
Hotels often authorize an incidental deposit to cover room charges or damage. It’s a hold rather than a charge and is usually released after checkout, though some banks take several days to clear it.